'No real support' for early years in Government's levelling up white paper

Due to be published tomorrow (Wednesday), the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper identifies 55 ‘cold spots’ of the country where additional support will be provided to improve schools and children’s’ outcomes.

The white paper also outlines new measures for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and more funding for vulnerable families as well as training.

It fails to include any measures for young children or the early years sector and workforce however, or give any mention to tackling child poverty.

'No real support for early years'

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said that there was ‘no real support for early years in the White Paper despite how crucial the period is to ‘lifelong learning.’

‘We need to see more support given to children to build up their foundations of learning. This must include a clear strategy for early years and their workforce. 

‘A first simple step could be to meaningfully increase the Early Years Pupil Premium to at least bring it in line with the school-aged Pupil Premium.’

Kevin Courtney, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), urged the Government to commit to a ‘proper strategy’ across departments to eradicate child poverty, which can ‘strongly’ determine young people’s life chances and ambitions. 

He also argued that the sums being promised for schools will not make up for what has been cut and said, ‘If the Government was serious about levelling up education, then it would restore all the money it has cut from these schools.’

Action for Children called on the Government to set three clear targets to guide levelling up for children. They are:

• The number of children in poverty 
• Investment in early intervention 
• School readiness

Education Investment Areas

The 55 ‘cold spots’ identified as Education Investment Areas in the Government white paper - such as County Durham, Cornwall and Hartlepool - will receive targeted investment, support and action to help children succeed over the next decade.

The Department for Education (DfE) says that schools in these areas that have been judged less than good in successive Ofsted inspections could be moved into ‘strong’ multi-academy trusts, to attract more support and the best teachers – subject to a consultation in the spring.

Support for the new Education Investment Areas will include retention payments to help schools keep the best teachers and support to address wider issues such as pupil attendance with a new pilot programme.

Local authorities that contain one of the 12 Government Opportunity Areas will benefit from the same interventions.

The white paper will also set a new national mission to ensure that 90 per cent of children leaving primary school in England are reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths by 2030.

Other measures being introduced as part of the levelling up agenda include:

• An extra £200 million for the Government’s Supporting Families programme in England to improve the lives of up to 300,000 vulnerable families.
• Better support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families and care givers with respite care and internship opportunities.
• A new ‘skills mission’ to help improve people’s lives and boost the economy, targeting 200,000 more people to help them complete high-quality training each year by 2030.

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said, ‘This White Paper sets out our blueprint for putting skills, schools and families at the heart of levelling up. It focuses on putting great schools in every part of the country, training that sets you up for success in a high-skilled, well-paid career and ensuring no one misses out on opportunities simply because of where they live or their family background.

‘Raising our expectations and aspirations for children, as well as creating a high-skilled workforce, will end the brain drain that sees too many people leaving communities in order to succeed. These plans will help create a level playing field and boost the economy, both locally and nationally.’

Minister for Levelling up Communities and Equalities Kemi Badenoch added, ‘Our Supporting Families Programme is providing the most vulnerable families with the help they need to build a better future.

‘This help means more children returning to the classroom, more parents out of work starting a job and more support for the victims of domestic abuse.’

Natalie Perera, chief executive of the Education Policy Institute (EPI), said it would be ‘important to closely scrutinise the criteria used by the Government for selecting its Education Investment Areas, and how it intends to deliver 'intensive' support.

She welcomed the Government’s adopted of the EPI’s recommendation for retention payments for teachers.

Perera added, ‘It is essential that the Government’s plans for these areas follow policy interventions on school improvement that are proven to work, and support is also offered to pupils beyond the school gates, to families and within the community. Without a sound evidence base and sufficient resources, the Government’s ambitious plans to level up may fail to get off the ground.’